Dope: Challenging Stereotypes and Striving for Success

Introduction to 'Dope': A Fresh Take on Stereotypes

Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, "Dope" takes us into the lives of three teenage buddies trying to make it out of their tough neighborhood. The film flips the script on stereotypes by showing Malcolm and his pals Diggy and Jib as smart and ambitious kids of color. They dream big despite what life throws at them. Malcolm's got his eyes set on Harvard, hoping for a bright future. But things get messy when he finds drugs in his backpack after a wild party. This movie really makes you think about the choices we make and the fallout that can come with 'em.

The Meaning Behind 'Dope'

The flick kicks off by explaining "dope," which means different things like a fool, drugs, or just something cool. It kinda sets up all the feels you're gonna go through watching this story unfold. Malcolm is this shy but super-smart kid getting ready for Harvard apps. He’s got this essay on Ice Cube's "Today Was a Good Day" for his advisor, who tells him to write more personal stuff. But Malcolm wants to stick with his creative spin. As the film rolls on, you see him grow and start seeing life—and his Harvard app—differently.

Life in Inglewood: Challenges and Choices

Malcolm and his crew have it rough at their mostly black high school in Inglewood, CA. He’s got a crush on Nakia, but she's seeing Dom—a street gangster-slash-drug dealer. Dom invites him to a birthday bash, and Malcolm goes just to be near Nakia again. Things go south when Dom gets busted, leaving Malcolm with drugs, a gun, and a phone in his bag the next day! From there, he and his friends are all about ditching those drugs and keeping their rep clean.

A Harvard Interview with a Twist

A standout scene is Malcolm’s chat with Austin Jacoby, a Harvard alum who's also AJ—the guy meant to get those drugs! AJ acts like he's not involved and dumps the problem on Malcolm's lap. He tells Malcolm he better sell those drugs before their next meet-up if he wants that Harvard rec letter. So what does Malcolm do? Teams up with Will Sherwood, a hacker dude, to sell the stuff online using Bitcoin! They even use a science fair project as cover to get into their school's lab for transactions.

Dealing With Racial Stereotypes

In one part of the movie, Malcolm redoes his essay focusing on two students: one who's all about band practice and good grades; another who turns to shady ways for cash. He asks questions like "Why do I wanna go to Harvard?" And "If I were White, would you ask me that?" The film dives deep into racial stereotypes through these questions.

Malcolm: A Minority Within a Minority

The movie paints Malcolm and friends as geeks aiming for Harvard—not your usual stereotype in their community. Gazi says calling them geeks makes people question their authenticity as black individuals since they're into stuff that’s not typically associated with their race.

An Antihero's Journey

You might wonder why Malcolm didn’t just hand over the drugs to cops from day one? Thing is if they did that given society’s bias against them—they’d probably end up arrested on sight because of racial profiling. Instead he becomes an antihero selling those drugs smartly while challenging stereotypes along way—even using some illegal tactics like blackmail!

Conclusion: A Bold Statement Against Systemic Bias

"Dope" flips typical narratives by focusing on non-white teens striving for better futures despite societal barriers around education & career prospects—it highlights how systemic racism forces minorities onto alternative paths towards success sometimes using unconventional methods too!

References:

• Famuyiwa, R., Director (2015). Dope [Film]. Open Road Films.
• Sims, D. (2015). 'Dope' Is Much More Than Its Title Suggests. The Atlantic.
• Barker, A.L., (2015). Dope: Film Review - Hollywood Reporter.
• Lewis, H.G., (2015). The Social Commentary of ‘Dope’. IndieWire.
• Johnson-Bailey, J., & Cervero R.M., (2017). Race-related discourse patterns in films about education: Where's the pattern?. SpringerLink Journal Articles.
• Tateishi E., (2016). Counter-narratives in Cinema - Exploring Racial Identity Through Film Analysis Techniques Used In Dope (2015). Academic Press Inc..